New Buckhead multi-family projects: 13,488 units since Jan. 1, 2012

The Buckhead Coalition last week issued its update on new mid- and high-rise apartment units proposed, announced, started construction or completed and renting as of news reports Oct. 7 and came up with a total of 13,190 new apartment developments since Jan. 1, 2012. But they apparently did not have the complete story.

The Coalition started listing announcements of new apartment buildings planned for the Buckhead community shortly after the Great Recession turned, in early 2012.

Two view of the proposed facade of Crescent Communities’ 25-story Crescent Lenox.

At that time, there were 12,704 units in mid- and high-rise rental apartment buildings in Buckhead, and the pent-up demand was quickly beginning to show, with demand easily surpassing the supply on hand.

The nonprofit civic service organization has continued to update this material with every new pronouncement. It went from 900 units to over 3,000 per year, to BuckheadView’s Oct. 7 report that Crescent Communities will start its fourth building in Buckhead with a 25-story tower on Oak Valley Road (at Wright Avenue), offering 352 units. That pushed the Coalition’s 2012 new total to 13,190!

The SPI-9 Development Review Committee got its first look at The Preston Partnership’s planned multi-use complex for Pharr Road at North Fulton Drive on Oct. 7.]

However, the Coalition apparently was not aware of another new multi-use apartment project planned by The Preston Partnership for the southeast corner of Pharr Road and North Fulton Drive. It will add another 298 apartment units on seven levels above ground-floor retail and a parking deck. The Preston Partnership project, announced Oct. 7 at the Development Review Committee meeting for SPI-9 (Special Public Interest district), would raise the total number to 13,488.

This is well over a 100% increase in just over 3 1/2 years, clearly illustrating the changed profile of Buckhead residents to the

This rendering shows the front of the proposed new Mill Creek Residential development on Peachtree Road, with Pharr Road to the left.

Millennials who want the flexibility of renting, with the prediction many will walk to work and ride bikes for surrounding amenities, according to the Coalition’s announcement.

It should be noted that although it has acknowledged apartments are increasing in numbers in other submarkets as well, the meaningful

difference is that the Coalition’s numbers are backed up every month with specific identification of location, name of building, height in floors, number of units, developer, and construction status.

Coalition President Sam Massell challenged “all others to do the same for honest comparison.”

Buckhead also has office space, hotel rooms, retail units, and other space under construction, all as evidence that as the Buckhead Coalition’s Annual Guidebook announces on the cover: “Buckhead is Back in Business!”

Below is the listing presented by the Buckhead Coalition—minus the number of floors for each project and the most recent announcement by The Preston Partnership—as of Oct. 7:

An early rendering of the Gables Buckhead project, with Maple Drive to the left and East Paces Ferry Road going in front of the apartment towers and townhomes between the East Paces and the two towers.